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SMAD‐6 overexpression and CAV‐1 underexpression as potential biomarkers of hepatitis C infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic hepatitis C. Correlating with liver disease progression, hepatic fibrosis is a key factor for development of liver disease and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to compare the transcriptomic profiles of 84 genes involved in the development of fibrosis genes in various stages of fibrosis associated with chronic hepatitis C. This study is a prospective analysis of genes associated with hepatic fibrosis in newly diagnosed hepatitis C infected patients receiving clinical care at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases (UHID) in Zagreb, Croatia. Analysis was done using real‐time quantitative RT PCR to study the expression of 84 fibrosis genes. Nine patients with HCV and 3 HCV‐ negative individuals were enrolled in the study. We compared expression of genes associated with hepatic fibrosis as a consequence of HCV infection. Of 84 analyzed genes, SMAD‐6, IL‐13 and MMP‐8 were overexpressed in HCV patients when compared to the healthy controls. On the other hand, CAV‐1 was downregulated and statistically significant in all stages of fibrosis compared to healthy controls. To conclude, overexpression of SMAD‐6 is significant predictor of HCV infection. Also, overexpression of IL‐13 and MMP‐8 may play a role in the development of HCV chronicity. On the other hand, downregulation of CAV‐1 may contribute to exacerbation of liver fibrosis and progression to HCC.

Biomarkers, infectious disease, molecular immunology

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